TROUT LAKE — I’ve got a dozen cross-country ski routes I periodically rotate through between Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and upper Wind River in the southern Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Some are just trails, solely for nordic skiing and marked with blue diamonds and signs. Others are snow-covered roads, often shared with snowmobile riders. Some are a blend of trails and roads.
But the one I like best is the Big Tree Loop, a 4.9-mile partial loop out of Pineside Sno-Park, five miles north of Trout Lake.
It’s a great loop for beginners, with less than 100 feet total elevation change. It has two gradual downhill stretches, just right for a new skier to get the feel of going downhill on cross-country skis, yet not so fast as to fall.
There’s even a very short diversion to Big Tree, one of the largest known Ponderosa pines.
The snow at Mount Adams is better for skiing than the concrete found at Mount St. Helens and upper Wind River. I assume this is because the temperatures are colder, thus less thawing and refreezing, which begets ice, especially under trees.
The weather often is better too, with blue skies when the west side is locked in low clouds and drizzle.
And the crowds are smaller. Compared to Teacup Lake or Trillium Lake on Mount Hood, there are no crowds.
“It’s getting a little more popular,’’ said Camden McMahon of the Mount Adams Ranger District. “But it’s still never crowded. There are maybe 15 cars on a nice weekend day, one on a weekday.’’
Here are the details of the semi-loop:
• The trailhead is just across road No. 82 from Pineside Sno-Park.
• Ski down road No. 041 for 0.7 mile. You come to a junction that is the beginning of the actual loop. Go forward (left) on road No. 020 with its little elevation gains and losses for 1.2 miles to a junction with road No. 025.
• Turn right and climb on road No. 025 as it twists for 0.7 mile to a junction with road No. 8020.
• At the junction with road No. 8020, take a short detour to the left to Big Tree.
• Get back on road No. 8020 and go right (northeast) for a flat 0.7 mile to the junction with road No. 041. This junction, at 2,890 feet, is the highest elevation on the route.
• At the junction of roads Nos. 8020 and 041 you will turn right and go down road No. 041 for 1.1 miles to the junction with road No. 020, where the loop began. It’s then 0.7 miles back up No. 041 to Pineside Sno-Park.
With a stop at Big Tree, this loop can be skied easily in three hours.
Gifford Pinchot road No. 82 is plowed regular to Pineside. Big Tree Loop, as well as other trails out of Pineside and SnowKing sno-parks, are groomed intermittently, McMahon said.
DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS
Follow state Highway 14 to the Klickitat County side of the mouth of the White Salmon River then turn left and follow state Highway 141 for 25 miles to Trout Lake.
At the Chevron Station entering town, stay right and go 1.4 miles to the junction of roads No. 82 and 23. Stay right on No. 82 for 3.3 miles to Pineside Sno-Park. Turn right into the parking lot.
Pineside is at 2,700 feet elevation, has room for 30 vehicles and has a restroom. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive here from Vancouver.
